McCain Security Threatens ProgressNow Protesters With Arrest

DENVER--Protesters with ProgressNow outside today's John McCain town hall meeting here were told to throw their signs away or risk being arrested for trespassing.

McCain's secret service detail told the Denver Police that the three protesters, one dressed in a pea costume that included photos of President Bush and McCain, were told to shut their protest down about an hour before the campaign event began.

"McCain's secret service has told us we can't exhibit our first amendment rights of free speech," said Michael Huttner, executive director of ProgressNow.

The protesters were not told to leave the premises but were told they couldn't display their signs.

McCain was scheduled to address the economy at today's town hall, a perfect opportunity, according to Progress Now to stage its Pea Pod Political Theater, which, according to Huttner, is meant to underline the idea that, when it comes to economic policy, McCain and Bush are "obviously two peas in a pod." The group also planned to hand out pea pods to people in line.

"No matter how many green beans you eat, Bush and McCain's economic policies are bad for America," Huttner says, mixing his vegetable metaphors in a press release.

Read more at the Colorado Independent.

Comments

[Hatchibakku99]

The protesters weren't just "threatened". Carol Kreck (the lady with the "McCain = Bush" sign) was actually ticketed and issued a July 26 court date.
I believe that if we tore up the sidewalk on which these protesters stood, we'd actually find the First Amendment buried there! We've got to somehow get this out to the MSM (blessings on Rachel Maddow for getting it started!) so the rest of America can see how repressive government could become under McCain!!!

[kmac23va]

She should've stayed and gotten arrested. A judge would've laughed it out of court. The ticket likely will be as well.

[lthuedk 1]

The foot shooting is becoming the moniker of Republicanism.

Here, Secret Service:

http://www.light-to-dark.com/McBush.html

Now, if "Senator" McCain instructs, will you arrest me?

I'm waiting with extended wrists.

[Chillinout]

McBush's teeth need to be yellowed, other than that I liked it.

[karela]

According to the article, these protesters were OUTSIDE, so there was no question of interrupting McCain's speech and McCain hadn't even arrived yet. Since when does the secret service get to say whether or not an American can hold a sign while protesting outside a public building? These big boy republican boosters better pull in their horns or a whole lot of of people are going to be joining the protesters outside his events. Do you really think that McCain wants to be seen trying to arrest 10,000 voters. It was easy with three John, but there are a lot more available if you push this.

[FlyingEagel]

I agree. Maybe people should start showing up in #'s to counter what the secret service is doing. Since when has it become there job to stifle the right of the people to protest? This is outrageous if true, the American people should push back. It is not the job of the secret service to arrest people for trespassing.

[XME]

Any doubts the MSM will never cover this???

[ObamaandClinton08]

Once again it only looks like Rachel Maddow (filling in for Keith) on MSNBC is the only major MSM Tv network to cover this story.

Clearly our beloved Mr. Magoo can't stand the heat of being compared to Bush so he sends out the SS' to sanitize the event for him.

Just another reason why I would never vote Republican.

John McCain (R) Unfit to serve as Commander-In-Chief

[jupitor]

I don't think holding a protest sign or dressing as a pea pod is desruptive to Mccains Campagne! Now they do want to check them out for weapons of course. Can't be to safe. but takeing away their signs and such should not be done, unless they start yelling and desrupting the speech! Than they should be asked to leave. There is a good and bad way to be heard as protesters! This of course isn't the first time Mccain has had protesters up stageing him at these speech's! I think Mccain better get use to this as the election goes on, and find a way to handle it with out takeing freedom of speech away from the people of america. He could at the on set, turn to the protesters and ask them to write down a couple of their questions or complaints and he will try to ans. them at the end of his speech, if they show respect and let him do his speech uninterupted! But , I don't think Mccain has the fortitude to do that! He doesn't want unprepared questions, or disruptions of any kind. He seems to have a hard time getting through these things, and seems nervouse and out of place allthe time! I hate watching the old guy do a speech!